Lets not beat around the bush shall we? Singaporeans are incredibly pragmatic. It all boils down to the interesting question my roomie posed in our interesting conversations on the singaporean society in general:
"As long as Singaporean earn a comfortable living, and have the means to afford consumerism as a form of religion, why question what the government does? Its all working out fine despite we living in what can described as technically a one party state."
True, MM Lee has brought Singapore a loong way indeed. Heck, Malaysia pales in comparison, and for that matter, every other SEA country. The best universities in the region and even in Asia are in Singapore. A stable economy, a safe city, a civil society.
But things have to be more than that. I admire the Singaporen education system. Its unforgiving and grinds out students with a lot of potential.
But its also wrong in one sense. It stifles creativity of thought and subtly forces everyone to conform to one method, one path to success, one system.
This fact is pretty much true in a lot of Asian countries.
So why isn't Singapore boldly trying something new? I mean, if all the talk about making competitive and dynamic people is true, education is a place to start, but its not the core method of going about it.
People have to be encouraged to be less pragmatic and more courageous to try something new. Introduce a bit eccentricity. And i don't believe that will happen as long as the prejudices connected to being a loser in school exists
Where from the minute you enter the education system, its all about aiming for the limited JC places, and then on to university after which the promise of a better life exists. Polytechnic and ITEs (Institute of technical Education) is seemed inferior in comparison and its a prejudice that is extremely difficult to wipe from the minds of Singaporeans.
A poly grad earns less in the first few years than a uni student. It doesn't make sense as we all forget what we learn in uni anyway. And don't scoff at me. Even though you reading this might be on the way to a first class honors degree , is it really the most important aspect of your life?
Singaporeans will say yes. My parents will say yes. ASIANS will say yes. Its in our nature to equate education with a good life. Its an excellent path and dogma to adhere by, but its not the only one nor is it the best.
The best would be to take an individual, and to truly make him/her flexible and dynamic and to strip him/her of prejudices and fear to try something new and to do things differently.
Asian education is trying to do this, but its a pathetic attempt. Singapore needs to look into this more, and one place to start would be to uninstall the damn cameras in Hong Lim Park and to let people speak freely about politicians and even MM Lee Kuan Yew.
For despite everything he has done, he is nothing more than a servant of the nation, not a king. He serves YOU , the Singaporeans , and it is YOU he should fear and not the other way around.
Perhaps it is the fear in us to lose control of a situation, and i believe the Singapore government fear widespread anti government sentiments and dissent once it opens that can of worms.
WHAT? LET PEOPLE JUST SAY THINGS ABOUT GOVERNMENT!? IN PUBLIC? CAN PROTEST WITHOUT PERMIT ANYWHERE? WAAAH!! ANARCHY MAN!?
I think not. The less control government has on what people say and do, the better. People will talk more, question things and ideas more. Non conformists will emerge, and probably inspire other as well to do things differently.
On an entirely different note, i believe taxpayer money should be diverted from nonsensical baby bonuses and into the private sector to fund paternal leave.
YES! I AM NOT JOKING.
Iceland and Nordic states are doing it. Companies grant dads paternal leave for even an entire year. It makes having a baby more appealing. Mother is not home alone most of the time , kid's development is better with a father around and the family as a whole become closer.
If that's not worth investing in, i dunno what is?
Oh hang on, an expensive military budget for "security" reasons is...darn, MM Lee sure got the NS program right..... and whoop di do.....he's now gone from limiting births to trying to get more young people to have more sex, hook up and churn out kids.
Its like the Matrix! Government equals machines and the citizens are mere tools. Awfully scary.
Anyway, read this article on what's going on in Denmark and Iceland with the paternal leave thing. Divorce rates are improving as well. Of course they will dummy!? Daddy at home spending time helping Mommy with baby, it creates a strong bond.....duh!
Singaporeans need to be less pragmatic.
Cheers from the,
Matrix
